Electric selecting mechanism.



H. G. HORSTMANN. .ELECTRIC SELEGTING MEGHANISM.

Patented July 27, 1909;

l. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.16, 1908. 929,133.

6 SHEETBf-SHBBT 1.

-' H. HORSTMANN. ELECTRIC SBLBCTING MEGHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED vs1.PT.-1, 1908.

Patented July 27, 1909.

v H. C. HRISTMANN-K,

. ELECTRIC SELECTING- MECHANISM.

AIfrLIoATIoN FILED sEPT.'16,1-9oa.

i 929,133. Patented July 27,1909.

aSHBBTs-SHBBT s.

H. 0,. HORSTMANN. ELECTRIC SELECTING M EGHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPIvHlG, 1908. v l 929, 133 Patented July 27, 1909.

'sHnETs-SHBET 4.

H. C. HORSTMANN. ELECTRIC SELEGTING MEGHANISM. APPLICATION FILED sBPTLlG. 190s,

929,133-, Patented Ju1y27, 1909.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

is a' full, clear, andexact specicatipn.

. to actuate the attached ty e.bar or perform ^the clutch in engaging position' with its cyl-Q: inderefter its Work is done., this might;- cause unnecessary friction and Wear of the: parts.-

'. cuit through the clutch, orshort-circuiting it released the instant the work is done, oreven.

nel.

' planes; Fig. A4-is an enlarged detail illustrat-y ingjthe magnets which hold the.actua-ting.-l

.plo.yed, may be carried out in a variety"of" 3-is a front elevation, with some of the mech-E unrrrnn smT Ins vruirinrtr omen.

HENRY C. HORSTMN, OF CHICAGOQILLINOIZS, ASSONO. OF ONE-FOURTH TO SAMUL.

EVANS'ND ONlllfFOURTH TO JOHN HOWARD MCELROY, BOTH 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.`

nmernre vsnnnccrme To all 4whom/t 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, HENRY C. HORST- MANN, acitizen of the United States, and a resident ofChicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, lhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Selecting Mechanism, ofwhich the following'- AMy invention .1s concerned with a novel. electric selecting mechanism, and it is designed primarilyto furnish-a simple and efcient apparatus adapted to be connected to or combined fwith any. Ordinary form of a key-operated typevvriting machine so that the keys may. be o erated by 'closing electric circuits, instea of manually, as where the machine isused in the ordinary manner.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a clutch for each key, which clutch isV adapted A to grip a preferably constantly rotatin cylinder When `the circuit for that keyis osed and be carried with the cylinder until the connected key has been moved far enough Whatever duty it has. hilemayleave Where the cylinder rotates constantly, and I. L prefer to provide means for breaking the cirabout the clutch magnet', so that .the clutch is sooner, as'I contemplate regulating they force of the blow by releasing the clutch at a'xed time before the blow is delivered, kand thus govern the strength of the impact. This feat-ure of breaking. the circuit, whenk it is em ways, a few of Which I illustrate.

To illustrate my invention, I annex hereto six sheets of drawings, in which the same ref-` erence characters are used to represent identical parts in-all the igures, of Which,-

Figure 1 'sa vertical section through 'a portion of a ty ewriting machine towhich m31` invention has geen added; Fig. 2 is a Adetach@ perspective view ofone of the links employedl toconnect the key 'bars tothe clutches; Fig..

anism broken .away on different .vertical` Specification of Letters Pten. Application led 4September-f6, 1990. Serial 'omll.

-selecting system, or in the ordinary manner Patented .my 27,. l l' larged perspective view of one o the clutchs olenoids shorwirciadyrig. 5 is an 55 guides andj the solenoid wound thereon;

6 is a partial to plan view in. section below the. key levers; ig. 7 is e pers ective view of one of the'clutches detached; ig. 8 isa' rspective view of some of the switch mem ers. for short-circuiting the solenoids; Fig; 9 is adiagrammatie view of four of the key leverl clutches, the shift-bar actuating .nieguen- I and the circuits therefor; Fig. 10. is.a da-.f grammatic view of a modified formof clutch= releasing mechanism; Fig. 11 isa similar 'view of stillanother form of clutch releasing .mechanism; Fig. 1-2 illustrates a modification of the mechanism shown in Fig. 11; and

p Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate modifications of the;

mechanism for drivingthe c linder,

While I contemplateiemp oying my inventhat it can be operated either by the electric as may be desired.' A

As the typewriting machine to which my jinven't'ion is shown as applied 1s of a stamt-.t ard make, Such as. the Well known Reminglton machine, I have .only illustrated a por! tion of the' frame 20, a few of tlie key levers- 21, the carriage vshift keys 22 for upper and lower c aeletters, and the space bar 2,3. v

To the under-side of the frame 20 is at?` t'ached, als-bythe screws 24, the vframe lfor the a paratus proper, `which frame consists of t e side' pieces 25 and '26,.connected bythe f tion 1n connection With any ,apparatus in. Iwhich an electric selecting system is desired,.- I have'- devised it primarily for use with an. felectrically controlled or o erated type-f -Writer, and accordingly have s own it as applied to a standard typwritingmachine, so

base plate 27, the Abfarsf28and 28?t ofinsula-- tion, the magnet rods 29 and 29, the arma-v 4ture supporting rods 3() Aand 30a, and may also'be connected byV the #clutch su' porting rods 31 Yandl a, which are preferab y capable of being given alslight adjustment verti# cally by any suitable means; l The side pieces 25A and 26 also have journaled therein' the'shafts 32 and 32a,t`o which are secured the cylinders 33 and 33, Whichare geared together as aconvenient means of compelling them-to rotate together by. the gear. wheels 34' and 34, and-Whiclilare driven'l many slut-- vable manner, as" by a' belt passing-.over ai small electric motor.

' f n the 4pulley wheel 35 ,secured to the shaft 32 which belt may be conveniently run by a The u per clutch members 36 and* 36V are preferab y stamped up from sheet metal, and

'have the semi-circular engaging surface 37 ofthe proper size to `fit snugly on the surface of the cylinders 33and 33a, the aperture 38 for the links 39 and 39a, the aperture 40 for the pivot lates 41 and 41%, and the extension 42, viich acts as an armature for the core ortion 43 ofthe associated lower clutch mem ers 44 and 44"". These clutch members 44 and 44a have the vsemi-circularengaging surface 45, thea erture 46 for the pivot plates 41 and. 41, te core ortion 43,

'which is curved on the arc of a circ e with the shafts 32 and 32L as a center, and may have the switch-o erating extension 47, as here- `inafter exp ained. The position of the lower clutch members is controlled by suitable means, as the set screws 48 screwed through the base plate 27 and secured by 'aw nuts 49.. The associated `clutch mem ers 36 and 44, and 36a and 44a, are

preferably secured by the double-jointedA link, so that the key evers may be o erated manually without ali'ecting the c utchcs. v The armature extension 42 and the core porv tion 43extend into the clutch guides 5l and 51a, best shown in Figi 5, which assist in holding the clutches in a vertical plane, and

serve as a spool for the solenoids 52 and 52a Wound thereon, and through which the cores 43 reciprocate, and which are secured by th set screws 48.

With the understanding that each solenoid 52. and 52 is in a circuit devoted to the letter or character rihted by its associated key le- 'ver 21; and t at somesuitable means is employed for energizing .the solenoids by closing the circuits in which they arelocated, the operation of the fundamental portion of my ap aratus can now be understood. The cylin` ers 33 and 33a are constantly rotating, and when any circuit is closed the .pull of its solenoid draws its core 43 up toward its `arma'- ture 42, `so that the bearingsurfaces 37 and engage, the cylinder, which then carries the clutch with it, drawing down the link 39. '.or 39a to depress `the lever to actuate the type bar and print the desired character; -Of

eaaies between the clutches and the cylinders if the circuit were not broken by releasing the key the instant any clutch had moved its full disL tance with the cylinder, I preferably provide means for breaking or short-circuiting the' current through the solenoids at or ashort timebefore the clutches have moved their full stroke with the cylinders, and for this purpose l inount on the bars of'insulationQS and 28, the adjustable contact screws 53 and 53a, and the spring contact stripsv54 and 54, so that when the extensions 47 approach thelimit of their movement, they strike the armature switches 55 and 55Lstrung on the rods 30 and 30a, and swing them up so that they contact with ,the strips 54 and 54a, and bring them against the set screws 53 and 53a to close short circuitsabout the solenoids 52 and 52a.A To hold each of these short circuits closed until the key. is released, l provide the electromagnets 56 and 56a, best shown in Fig. 4, which are strung on the rods 29 and 29, whose pole pieces attract and hold the armature switches 55 and 55, when they are brought within their fields' bythe action of the extensions 47.

Referring to Fig. 9, the circuits for the aprsiaratus thus far described will be seen. upposing that the lowermost letter switch 57 is closed, the current flows from the battery 58 through thevcommon conductor 59,

- and thebranch 60 through the solenoid 52,;k thence through the conductor 61 through the magnet 56, thence through the conductor 62 to' the switch 57, thence through the branch 63 to the main conductor 64, which leads to the battery When the stock letter form shown in my application No. 320,519 iled June 7, 1906, is employed, the sweeping contact 65 connected by a flexible conductor 66 A with the conductor 6,4 may be considered as l brought into engagement with the contacts 67 of the switches 57, when it will be manifest that the circuit will be 'closed through the electromagnet 56 andthe solenoid'l in the same manner. swings the armature switch 55`up to close the short circuit through the contact strip 54 and contact screw 53, the conductors 6,8 and`69,

which are practically of noresilstance as compared with the solenoid 52, take ractically all the current, denergizingthe so enoid and releasing the clutch, which is carried back to initial position by the action of the ls ring (not shown) lifting its connected key ever.

Of course the circuit is broken at,the-switch` 57 at least slightly before the time another When the extension 47 t course it will be understood` that'the dupli-f v I switch 57 is closed to print another letter. cate arrangement of the cylinders, clutches,

AWhere my inventionis to be employed in. 13T/ camas connection with a machine ofthe Remington type, 1n which the carriage is shifted to print 4uppercase letters, ,the shift keys 22 have as'- m-ature 71 connected by a pin and s ot con-.-

sc'ciated therewith the powerful shift-key magnet 7 0', which may be ofthe design best shown 1n Fig. 3, and have the swin arnection' Vith a link 72 connected to one of the shift keys. This' armature carries aninsulated bridge piece 73 for the contacts 74'and- 75 supported on the insulating bracket 76.

The Wiring connections for-this shift magnet.

70 are shown inlig, 9. A pair of switches 57? and 57b `are manipulated directly, and whenv the'switoh 57 is closed to rint capita1s,:the.` current Hows from the attery 58 through the conductor l77,

magnet 70, conductor 78, switch 57 and conductor '79 to This ene sthe magnet 70 the shift ey, and at the same et 70 nected machine willnow. continue to print capitals :until the' switch57" is closed', which 1 lthe-wires 83 and 84 connected to the switch terminals andi' the conductors "77- andf 7 9v short/#circuits the magnet 70 and releases the" j shift key 22, 'which automatically retm'nsto inoperative position.- It will l-shortscircuiting the magnet.V 'i tions'. of 'the clutch rel that .I mioht open the m ug honing taches 74,-' 7er-andrei, imma of l Refen'ing 0W t0 "tho Proposed .mechanisrn,=' I

have in Fig. `10 shownone form that is opercontacts ss and se adapted .to

ated by the action of the .escapement lever 85, which projects through a'eiot in a circuitfbreaker lever 87 carryin the', spring synthe-stationary contactpieces 90 and 91 placedin the conductor`64 which connects onev side' of the battery 58 and tire contact-strip 92 mounted -on a strip of insulation 93 secured on the frame of themachine, so that as the carriage slides across it, the iinger 94 .of the contact piece 95 mounted on the 'blockfof insulation 96 carried' by the carriage will slide over said strip 92. f.' The insulation 93 also carries the pair of contactstrips' 978L -and 97h, Whose surfaces are flush with the surface of the strip 93 and whichhave the in- Wardly projecting and alternated points 98a and 98", Which'are adapted 'to be alternately' I' engaged by the contact n 'er v99 of the con tact piece 96, the-'tips of t eiingers 94 and 99 being rounded oftf'so. that they lv'ill move freely over the contactst-rips 92 and 97 and 97b freely in either direction. The strips97 y and 971 are respectively connected by the .flexible conductors 66 'and 66b with the spring lingers 65a 'and 65h Aof the sweeping.

contact. 65v for the vstock letter, which fn ers are separated by thel 'insulation 65. A 'ne of the stock letter in this case is made up of the pins 67 staggered alternately on opposite sides of the insulating strip 100, and connected by the conductors 62 with the solenoids 52,. which in turn are connectedyby the conductors 60 with the 'common conductor 59 leading to the other side of the battery 58.' The operation' of this vmodification Will be readily apparent. As the contact piece 65 is swe t over the contacts 67, the strips-97a and 9 b are alternatelyjin` circuit, and as the moved by the carriage.' of the typewriter' as each-letter is prints the Contact leven` 87,. andwhen it springs back, the movement of thencontact and the nger. 99 have brok'enth'e circuit for the contact 67, whose letter has just been printed, andas a consequence the contact 65 must 'be moved on to'the next contact-67fl before` acircuit 'can be closed again. j `l In Fig'. 11, I have shown asimpler modifi;-

-catidn of the releasing mechanism shown in Fig. 150. In this' form the 'contact lever 87a .carries thear'mature piece 101, which .is

pulled into 'contact with the poles ofthe electromagnet 102 bythe esca ement lever 85fwhen a, letter is printed. '-l" l piece 101 .carries an extension 1,03,v which normally en# gages the contact 104, in 4which.*condition the connections from the battery .58* through the conductor`59 are uninterrupted, as in con'- 'inodiiicaf tinnous conductor shown inllig.v 9.' When the'letter is printed, this circuit is broken at the contact 104, but another circuit is formed r j through the contact 105 and conductors 106, 107 'and 108, thiscircuit includingthe magnet 102 and a small battery 109, ywhich 'has'.

strength enough to insure the 4magnet 10'2 holding the armature 101 so long as the key 57 is down. When itis released, the contact '104 is enga 'ed by 103, and the maincircuit may agalrfrl e closed. The direction of the current through the small battery is preferablyopposed to that of the current-through the mam battery-so as to prevent vinterfer- I have illustrated inv this figure the same ngers 98a and 98b areseparated the distanceV v Athe 'circuitis broken the instant .theletter is printed by the inove-v `ment 'of the escapement lever 85 ,acting on lf ence by the residual magnetism in the circuit.

shift-keyfrnagnet 70* and the two shift keys 57 B and v57h-.ias are employed in Fig. 9, and their operation is the saine as in that form.

The flexible conductor 66c may be employed with the sweeping contact 65 d for afrm letand 111, the shift-key magnet 70a is' energized'and helld,and short-gcircuited to release .1t,']ust as if the keysf and 57b respectively were'closed.

In Fig;`r I2, I lhaineillustrated a modifica- 1thefsanielevr by theescap'erig. 11, in which.

ter, and when it touches thev contacts 110 67 b of the stock letter. Thence the currentA passes through the magnets 52 as before, and Athrough the conductor 64a to the battery. The second circuit is from the'battery 58b through the conductor 106, through the coils or the electromagnetA 102, through the con-i ductor 107 to the contact 655,'and thence through. the contact67b of the stock letter as before. It will be understood that the two contacts 05d and 65e are carried by the sweeping contactmember 65, and it will be understood that the resistance o f the circuit including the magnet 102 is much greater,

say, ten times, that of the circuit. Vv ith this arrangement, it results that When the two circuits are closed by sweeping the contacts 65(l and 65c over the contacts 67b of the stock letter, both circuits are closed and the type-Writing machine is operated, so that the escapement lever carries the armature 101a into the field of the'electromagnet 102 so. as to be attracted and held thereby as long as the circuit through the electromagnet remains closed. This arrangement, of course, insures the release of the clutch member from the rotating cylinder, and prevents the same key from repeating.

In Fig.' 13, I have re resented a modiication in which the cylin er33'is. not operated continuously, but is operated intermittenti as each key is actuated. For this purpose employ a 'powerful electromagnet 107 the armature 103 of Which is suitably connected, as by the link 109, with an actuating le'ver '110, which carries a spring-pressed paWl 111 Whichengages the teeth 112 on the end of the cylinder 33. The same clutch members 36 and 44" are rovided and the same electromagnet 52 an connections, and the electromagnet 52 is in series with the electromagnet 107, with the result that-When 'the circuit is closed through any of the electromagnets 52, that electromagnexftf-is saturated and the clutch is immediately engage d' with` the cylinder 33, after which the electromagnet 107, requiring more current to complete itssaturation, acts to pulldown the armature 108, and thereby the lever 110, and actuate the cylinder to carry the clutch mechanism, and thereby the actuating' lever, With it. This modication enables meto dispense With the means for releasing the clutch mechanism, as the cylinder is only actuated so far at each operation as is necessary'to cause the letter to be printed, and no more.

'In'fliig 14, I have strated still another modification of the same general character as tromagnet 1073.

keys are 1n series with the electromagnet that shown in i` ig. 13, where, instead of the cylinder 33, I employ a bar 33 dWhich is common to all the keys, and is connected by the link 112 with the armature 108a of the elec'- The solenoids 52h for the 1071, but instead of the form of clutch shown in the other figures, I employ an armature 33, Which has the strips 39 connected to the key levers as before. This armature 33 is 'of the shape shown, and when the magnet 52 is energized, the magnetic circuit created causes the armature to swing over so that its lower end `113 passes beneath the-engaging edge 114 of the bar 33h. This action occurs before the bar 110a is drawn down, so that the resulting action is substantially the same, although simpler than that of the mechanism shown in lig. 13.

While I have shown and described 'my in'- vention as embodied in the form which I at Vresent consider best adapted to carry out lts purposes, it Will be understood that it is capableof modifications, and that I do not desire to be limited in the interpretation of the following claims except as may be necessitated bythe state of the prior art.

.What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a cylinder and means for rotating it, of a plurality of electrically controlled clutches adapted to grip the cylinder, actuating elements attache to the clutches, a plurality of circuits, onefor each clutch, and means for selectively energizing the circuits to engage the various clutches with the 2'. In a device of the class described, the combination Awith a cylinder and means for constantly rotating it, of a plurality of electrically controlled clutches adapted to grip lcylinder and move the associated actuating elements.

the cylinder, actuating elements attached to 1 the clutches, a lurahty of circuits one for each clutch, an means for selectively energizing the circuits to engage the various clutches With the cylinder and move the associated actuating elements.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a cylinder and means for constantly rotating it, 'of a plurality of electrically controlled clutches adapted to rip thee linder, actuating elements attache to the clutches, a plurahty offcircu'its one for each clutch, means for selectivelyenergizing the circuits to engage the various clutches With the cylinder` and move the associatedv actuating elements, and means for automatically denergizing each circuit When its clutch has moved With thecylinder a ydried distance. A

4; In a device of thejclass described, the

combination with a c linderand means for rotating it,-of a plurahty 'of clutches adapted' ll Y the c linder, a plurality of circuits in which the e ectromagnets are severally located, ac-

'1`0 elements.'

5. In a device of theclass described, the` tuati'ngelements attached to the clutches, and means for selectivel closing the circuits vtog'engage the various c u-tches with the-cyl?,

inder and move the associated actuating -combination'with a cylinder and means for rotatingit, Qi a plurallty of clutches adapted to ri' the cylinder, Aan electromagnetfor;

eac c utch adapted when energized to movev its clutch-into and hold it in' engagement with the .e linder,l a plurality of circuits' in'which the e e'ctromagnets areseverally located, ac:-

^ tuating elements attached to the-clutches,

` means for selectivel closing the circuits toi age-the various c utches with the cylinder combinationwith the cylinder, and means en an vmove the associated actuating elements,

and means for. automatically' denergizing] each. circuit through sa -'magnet .when its clutch has' moved with the cylinder aixed operate therewith and composed of two parts :der and rotatetherewith.`

7. In a device of the' class described, the

distance. l

6. In a'device of the class described, the

combination With the cylinder, and means /for rotating it, of a clutch adapted 'to coivotally connected at one side andhaving caring surfaces adapted toen age the cylinder, and an electroma net to raw the free sides-of the clutch toget er togrlp the 'cyli'nf combination with the cylinder, and 'means for rotating it, of a clutch ada ted .to coper- `ate therewith and compose vof two parts. 40 pivotally connected at one side by 4a double pivoted joint and having bearing surfaces..

adapted to engage thecylinder, and an electromagnet to draw thefree sides of the clutch together to grip the cylinder :and rotate 45 therewith. t-

x8. In'aV device of `theclass described, the

combination ,with the cylinder, and vmeans for rotating it, of a clutch adapted to coperate therewith tand', composed of two pieces, each' having a bearingsurface -to engage the `cylinder, a'nd on' having a curved core and' y'the other an op osed armature, and a solen- -oid adapted" to drawthe core therethrough 'toward the armature to grip the cylinder, 5 fter which the clutch moves with the cyliner. r v

9'. `Inja device of the class described, the combination with the cylinder, and means for lrotating' it, of a4 clutch adapted tocoper-A Q ate therewith and composed' of two pieces, `each having a bearing surface to'engage-the linder, and one having acurved core and lt e'otheran'opposed. armature, a solenoid the- 4cvlinder, an `electronagnet for engage the cylinder and one havi adapted to draw the core therethrough, to-p widthe 'armature to grip the cylinder; after.

Whichthe! moves with the cylinder, a

circuit the solenoid is included, switch melfnerateclti'ngsaid'circuit, and a roJ'ectron-cmi'edfby one ijf-saidk clutch memf 'ers adaptedtogs'trike; the-switch-member 'after the .clutchhasfmoved the cylinder n a fixed distance.

of; a@ bassiana-ibm, the# lco'mbination 'with-the cylindenend nieans for rotatingit, ofa clutchA adapted to coperadapted to draw the vcore therethrough toward the armature to gripthe cylinder, after- -Whichthe clutch-moveswith the cylinder',

and meaagisy to regulate thedistance of the -l-utch members from'the cylinderwhen the-.-

solenoid is denerg'ized. 11,. In a de 'ce of the class described, the

for rotating'it, vof a clutch adapted to cooper- 4 ate therewith land composed of .two pieces,

' each having a vbearing surface'to 4 engage the' c ylflinder', and one'having acurvedcoreand t e other a'n opposed armature, .afgsolenoid adapted to draw the core therethrough'toward. the armature. to grip thecylinder., after `wlichlth`e core. and armature which the solenoid is wound.

'12.' Ina device of theclass described,'the

.combination with the pair 4of lparallel cylinr.

ders. and means for rotating. themcinfs .which the 'clutch moves with the cylinder, y and.' a' slotted guiding member through pass and about chronism, of a lurality of two-part clutc es' A.

partv having a'semicirc'ular bearing surface to the other an opposed armature, said core-and 'foreachcylin er, the two' partsbeing pivf. oted together between the cylinders-,each ,10.5 acoreand armature being outside the space between the cylinders, a' corresponding 'pluralityfo .solenoids coperating with` the clutchesfas described, a corresponding plurality" of clr'-,

cuits in y'which the armatures are included,

selective mechanisnrfor closing the circuits,- l;

and actuating elements connectedv clutches between the cylinders.

, 'th the.

'i 13. In a device of the class described, the

combination with the cylinder; ,and means for rotating it, of a clutch adapted to cooperate therewith and composed of two pieces,

las

and means "to regulate the. distance ol. the

clutch membersfromthe cylinder'when the' solenoidis .de n'ergi-zed,` consisting ""oiff1 .the s'et, .y

each having a bearing surface 'to engage-thlgo 14.' In a device of the class described, the combination with an actuator common to a plurality of actuating elements, and means tor moving-it, of a plurality of electrically controlled clutches adapted togrip the actuator, actuatin elements attached to the clutches, a plura ity of circuits, one for each clutch, and means for selectively energizing the circuits to engage the various clutches With the actuator and move the associated actuating elements.' 15. In a device of the class described, the combination with an actuator commonto a plurality` of elements, and means for movin it, of a plurality of electrically controlle clutches adapted to grip the actuator, actu-` ating elements attached to the clutches,l a' plurality ofcircuits, one foreach clutch, means for selectively enerl 'izing A'the' circuits to engage the various c utches with the actuator and move the associated actuating elements, and means for automatically deenergizingl each" circuit when its clutch `has moved w1th the actuator a fixed distance.

l16. In a d evice of 'the class described, the combination'vvitli anactuator common. to a lur'a'litfy of' actuating elements, and means or moving it, vof a" plurality of clutches adapted to gri fthe actuator', an electro magnet foreac `clutch adapted .when enerlgized to *move its clutch into and hold it in engagement with the actuator, a pluralityof circults in which the electromagnets are severall located, actuating elements attached to t el clutches, and means for selectively closing the circuits to.engage the various clutches with the actuator and move the associated actuating elements. r,

17. In a deviceA civ-the class described, the combination with an Aactuator common to a pluralityl of actuatngelements, and means fory moving it-,. of4 a plurality of clutches adapted to gr-i ,the actuator, an electromagnet for each c utch adapted When energfized to move its clutchinto and hold it in en agement with the actuator, za plurality o circuits 'inlWhich the electromagnets are'severally located, actuating elements attached to the clutches', means for selectively closing thel circuits to engage the various clutches'.

With the'actuator and move the associated Cir 

